Therapeutic lamp



May 30, 1933. w, T LEWIS 1,911,196

THERAPEUTI C LAMP Filed May 16 1929 gin cantor Patented May 30, 1933 V a V UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM TURNOR LEWIS, OF RACINE, WISCONSIN THERAPEUTIC LAMP Application filed May 16, 1929. Serial No. 363,602.

This invention relates to therapeutic roughly follows the contour ofthe casing lamps. or reflector, and in which the central por- In therapeutic lamps, particularly those tion of the lamp is unobstructed and may be employing an infra-red element, difliculty provided with an ultraviolet element.

has been experienced in properly supporting Further objects are to provide a thera- 55 such element, as the element alternately conpeutic lamp which may be very cheaply tracts and expands, and as there is a great manufactured, which is highly serviceable, tendency for the element to sag after extenand Which has a long life,

In sive use. vFurther, it is difficult to properly An embodiment of the invention 1s shown support the element so that its maximum 111 the accompanying draw1ng,1n which: effect is produced without conducting heat Figure l is a view looking from the front to the casing or the support. of the lamp, such view' corresponding to a In addition to this, the lamps employing section on a line ll of Figure 2. infra-red elements usually are so arranged Figure 2 is a sectional view on a line 22 that the central portion of the lamp is obigu e structed and consequently the ultra-violet Referring to the drawing, it Wlll be seen producing element frequently used in this that the lamp comprises a casing or reflectype of lamp has to be offset or placed at an tor indicated generally by the reference inconvenient or less effective position. character 1. This casing may be circular This invention is designed to overcome or of any other convenient shape. It is the defects noted above, and objects of the preferably provided with a rear portion 2 invention are to provide a novel form of and a front wire mesh protecting screen 3. therapeutic lamp in which the infra-red el- The casing may be adjustably mounted, for cment is so supported that it is free to adinstance, pivotally mounted, within a supjust itself to even up inequalities in the tenporting frame 4, and this frame may be sion of the different sections thereof, and is Carried by any suitable type of support, for free to slide in it supports to lessen th instance, as indicated at 5. If desired, a chances of breaking of the element. handle 6 may be provided at the upper por- Further objects are to provide a theration of the frame to facilitate carrying the peutic lamp in which the infra-red element lamp about or moving it from point to point 0 is supported by spaced members and is held in the room. in a spaced relation to the center of the A plurality of eyelet or hooklike radially lamp so that the center of the lamp is not extending members 7 project through regur obstructed either by the infra-red element larly spaced apertures formed in the casing itself or by the supports for such element, 1. These members are provided with thread- 3 and to provide the spaced supporting eleed shanks 8 which are equipped with nuts ments with independent adjusting means 9 and 10 located on the inner and outer whereby the elements may be radially adsides of the casing 1. The eyelet or hookjusted with reference to the lamp to properlike portions of the member 7 carry porcely position and maintain the infrared elelain bushings 11, which may be grooved ment in its most effective and satisfactory peripherally to receive the hooklilie memlocation. bers, the member 7 being clamped after the Further objects are to provide a thera porcelain bushings are positioned. These P peutic lamp in which a reflector or casing porcelain bushings freely and slidably supis employed in which radially projecting port the infra-red element 12. This element supporting members are provided and may be in the form of a coiled resistance equipped with insulating, heat resisting unit, such, for instance, as a nichrome commeans through which the infra-red element position, adapted to withstand heat withm is free to slide to even up inequalities in out oxidation and Without burning. It tension, in which the infra-red element preferably takes the form of a continuous Ca V helix, as indicated in the drawing. The apertures through the porcelain bushings 11 are preferably rounded at their outer ends, as shown at Figure 1, so as to avoid catching in the convolutions of the infra-red element 12-, and to thus permit the utmost freedom of sliding for this infra-red element.

The ends of the infra-red element are connected to the insulated terminals 13 carried by any suitable form or clip or support, as indicated at Ll. The terminals are adapted to receive the leads, not shown, by means of which current is supplied the infra-red element.

This term of construction readily cooperates with an ultra-violet element, such as indicated at Figure 1. The ultra-violet element may take any desired form, for instance, as shown in the drawing, the ultravioletrays may be produced by means of an arc structure between a pair of carbons or other electrodes 15, which are held by the adjustable clamps 16. These clamps may be guided by the supporting bar 17 or guide, and are moved towards or from each other by the reversely threaded rod or screw 18, such screw extending through the iasing and being provided with a knurled operating handle or disc 19. If desired. a small panlike or cuplike member 20 may be carried centrally of the guide 17 and may be located below the adjacent ends of the carbons, to catch any falling material during the operation of the arc. The carbons may be supplied with current through flexible leads, not shown, or by any other desired means.

It is to be noted particularly that the infra-red element is held in spaced rela tion to the central portion of the lamp and consequently the ultra-violet element occupies a tree and unobstructed space, so that the infra-red rays and the ultra-violet rays may pass freely from the lamp, and the most effective or efficient condition is thereby obtained.

It is intended that either element be operated independently of the other, or that both be operated simultaneously.

It is to be noted also that the infra-red element is held at a plurality of spaced points and is slidably carried. As the element heats up, it slightly expands, and this expansion may be unequal. The manner of supporting the element permits a free adjustment to take place so that the tension in the different sections of the element can be evened up automatically. In addition to these advantages, it is apparent that the exact positioning desired may be readily obtained by adjusting the radially positioned supporting members inwardly or outwardly, as desired.

Further it is to be noted, that there is practically no direct conduction of heat from the infra-red element to the casing.

The construction is extremely simple and may be most easily produced at a very small cost.

It has been found in actual service, that the lamp operates in the manner described in detail above, that it has along li'fe, and that it is highly serviceable in practice.

Although the invention has been described in considerable detail, it is intended that this description be interpreted as illustrative, as the invention may be variously embodied and is, as stated, to be interpreted as claimed.

I claim:

1. A therapeutic lamp comprising a casing, a plurality of members having threaded shanks projecting through said casing, nuts screwed upon said threaded shanks and engaging said casing for adjustably holding said members, aplurality of insulators carried by said members and having apertures therethrough, and an infra-red element threaded through the apertures of said insulators.

2. A therapeutic lamp comprising a casing, a plurality of members having threaded shanks projecting through said casing, nuts screwed upon said threaded shank and engaging said casing for adjustably holding said members, a plurality of rigid, permanently formed insulators carried by said members and having apertures therethrough, and an infra-red element formed as a helix and threaded through the apertures of said insulators.

In testimony whereof, the signature of the inventor is affixed hereto.

VILLIAM TURNOR LElVIS. 

